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Columbia County, Pennsylvania
Columbia County, Pennsylvania court house
The Columbia County courthouse in Bloomsburg
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Columbia County
Location in the state of Pennsylvania
Map of the U.S
Pennsylvania's location in the U.S.
Founded March 22, 1813
Named for Christopher Columbus
Seat Bloomsburg
Largest town Bloomsburg
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

490 sq mi (1,269 km²)
483 sq mi (1,251 km²)
7.1 sq mi (18 km²), 1.4
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

64,727
138/sq mi (53/km²)
Congressional district 9th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.columbiapa.org
Footnotes:
Invalid designation
Designated: July 11, 1983[1]

Columbia County is a county located in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 64,727.[2] Its county seat is Bloomsburg.[3] The county was created on March 22, 1813, from part of Northumberland County. It was named Columbia, alluding to the United States and Christopher Columbus.

Columbia County is part of the Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography[]

View of northern Columbia County, Pennsylvania from Kramer Hill Road 3

View of northern Columbia County, Pennsylvania from Kramer Hill Road in Fishing Creek Township. On the horizon (about 8-10 miles away) is North Mountain. The borough of Benton is in the center of the picture.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 490 square miles (1,300 km2), of which 483 square miles (1,250 km2) is land and 7.1 square miles (18 km2) (1.4%) is water.[4] The southern tip of Columbia County is part of the Coal Region. The area of the county from the Susquehanna River south to several miles south of Numidia consists mostly of farmland and state game lands. Several communities developed along the Susquehanna River, such as Bloomsburg and Catawissa. From the Susquehanna River north as far as Waller, the county is mostly farmland with several patches of forest. North of Waller, the county is mostly state game lands and mountains.[5]

The major streams in Columbia County are the Susquehanna River, Fishing Creek, Briar Creek, Catawissa Creek, and Roaring Creek.[5]

The county has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Bloomsburg average from 26.9 °F in January to 72.4 °F in July. [1]

Mountains[]

Note: Only mountains higher than 1,500 feet (460 m) are listed

Name Height Image
Red Rock Mountain 2,365 feet (721 m) Red rock mountain
Central Mountain 2,247 feet (685 m)
Chimneystack Rock 2,244 feet (684 m)
Buck Mountain 1,942 feet (592 m) Buck Mountain from Buck Mountain Road
Catawissa Mountain 1,873 feet (571 m) Northwestern edge of Catawissa Mountain
Big Mountain 1,811 feet (552 m)
Knob Mountain 1,752 feet (534 m) Knob Mountain from the southwest 2
Nescopeck Mountain 1,604 feet (489 m) Nescopeck Mountain 1
Lee Mountain 1,594 feet (486 m) Lee Mountain in Briar Creek Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania
McCauley Mountain 1,571 feet (479 m) McCauley Mountain 2

Source:[6][7]

Major highways[]

  • I-80 I-80
  • US 11 US 11
  • PA-42 [[Template:Infobox road/PA/link PA|PA 42]]
  • PA-44 [[Template:Infobox road/PA/link PA|PA 44]]
  • PA-54 [[Template:Infobox road/PA/link PA|PA 54]]
  • PA-61 [[Template:Infobox road/PA/link PA|PA 61]]
  • PA-93 [[Template:Infobox road/PA/link PA|PA 93]]
  • PA-118 [[Template:Infobox road/PA/link PA|PA 118]]
  • PA-239 [[Template:Infobox road/PA/link PA|PA 239]]
  • PA-254 [[Template:Infobox road/PA/link PA|PA 254]]
  • PA-339 [[Template:Infobox road/PA/link PA|PA 339]]
  • PA-442 [[Template:Infobox road/PA/link PA|PA 442]]
  • PA-487 [[Template:Infobox road/PA/link PA|PA 487]]
  • PA-642 [[Template:Infobox road/PA/link PA|PA 642]]

Adjacent counties[]

State park[]

Part of Ricketts Glen State Park is in the northern portion of Columbia County.[8]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1820 17,621
1830 20,059 13.8%
1840 24,267 21.0%
1850 17,710 −27.0%
1860 25,065 41.5%
1870 28,766 14.8%
1880 32,409 12.7%
1890 36,832 13.6%
1900 39,896 8.3%
1910 48,467 21.5%
1920 48,349 −0.2%
1930 48,803 0.9%
1940 51,413 5.3%
1950 53,460 4.0%
1960 53,489 0.1%
1970 55,114 3.0%
1980 61,967 12.4%
1990 63,202 2.0%
2000 64,148 1.5%
2010 67,295 4.9%
[9]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 64,151 people, 24,915 households, and 16,568 families residing in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile (51/km2). There were 27,733 housing units at an average density of 57 per square mile (22/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.59% White, 0.80% Black or African-American, 0.15% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.2% were of German, 10.0% American, 9.4% Irish, 8.1% Italian, 6.7% Polish and 6.2% English ancestry.

There were 24,915 households, out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.80% under the age of 18, 14.30% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.

Metropolitan Statistical Area[]

The United States Office of Management and Budget[11] has designated Columbia County as the Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 census[12] the metropolitan area ranked 20th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 368th most populous in the United States with a population of 82,562. Columbia County is also a part of the larger Bloomsburg-Berwick-Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the populations of Columbia County as well as Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties in Pennsylvania. The Combined Statistical Area ranked 8th in the State of Pennsylvania and 115th most populous in the United States with a population of 264,739.

Politics and government[]

United States presidential election results for Columbia County, Pennsylvania[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 20,098 64.25% 10,532 33.67% 650 2.08%
2016 18,004 63.16% 8,934 31.34% 1,568 5.50%
2012 14,236 55.30% 10,937 42.48% 571 2.22%
2008 14,477 51.20% 13,230 46.79% 571 2.02%
2004 16,052 59.74% 10,679 39.74% 138 0.51%
2000 12,095 55.20% 8,975 40.96% 841 3.84%
1996 8,234 40.42% 8,379 41.13% 3,759 18.45%
1992 9,742 41.04% 8,261 34.80% 5,736 24.16%
1988 12,114 60.51% 7,767 38.79% 140 0.70%
1984 14,402 63.39% 8,254 36.33% 62 0.27%
1980 12,426 53.30% 9,449 40.53% 1,438 6.17%
1976 11,508 48.10% 12,051 50.37% 366 1.53%
1972 14,187 63.59% 7,222 32.37% 900 4.03%
1968 12,202 54.89% 8,187 36.83% 1,840 8.28%
1964 8,982 39.22% 13,885 60.63% 36 0.16%
1960 15,310 62.11% 9,322 37.82% 19 0.08%
1956 13,382 59.69% 9,024 40.25% 15 0.07%
1952 13,008 57.67% 9,467 41.97% 79 0.35%
1948 9,417 50.13% 9,367 49.87% 0 0.00%
1944 9,336 49.00% 9,647 50.63% 70 0.37%
1940 9,518 43.05% 12,523 56.65% 66 0.30%
1936 9,674 40.13% 14,141 58.66% 293 1.22%
1932 8,791 44.43% 10,640 53.77% 356 1.80%
1928 14,362 72.61% 5,304 26.81% 115 0.58%
1924 7,336 47.42% 7,390 47.77% 743 4.80%
1920 6,238 45.65% 6,965 50.97% 462 3.38%
1916 3,013 32.80% 5,785 62.97% 389 4.23%
1912 889 9.98% 4,905 55.05% 3,116 34.97%
1908 3,718 39.17% 5,373 56.60% 402 4.23%
1904 3,635 44.08% 4,196 50.89% 415 5.03%
1900 2,954 35.21% 4,982 59.38% 454 5.41%
1896 3,280 37.77% 4,904 56.47% 500 5.76%
1892 2,336 30.56% 4,929 64.47% 380 4.97%
1888 2,484 33.38% 4,676 62.84% 281 3.78%
1884 2,443 34.62% 4,338 61.48% 275 3.90%
1880 2,236 31.70% 4,598 65.18% 220 3.12%



As of November 1, 2021, there are 38,478 registered voters in Columbia County.[14]

  • Republican: 19,756 (51.34%)
  • Democratic: 12,855 (33.41%)
  • Independent: 4,176 (10.85%)
  • Third Party: 1,691 (4.39%)

While the county registration tends to be evenly matched between Democrats and Republicans, the county trends Republican in statewide elections. Donald Trump carried the county by more than 30 points in both 2016 and 2020. While John McCain received 51.6% of its vote to 47.1% for Barack Obama, this was a far-closer margin than the 20 points that George W. Bush carried it by in 2004. Each of the three row-office statewide winners carried Columbia in 2008. In 2006, Democrat Bob Casey Jr. received 51% of its vote when he unseated incumbent Republican US Senator Rick Santorum and Ed Rendell received 50.6% of the vote against Lynn Swann.

For many years Columbia County was represented in the State House by a conservative Democrat in the 109th district until John Gordner changed parties to Republican in 2001. He was elected to the State Senate in 2003 and succeeded by Republican David R. Millard. Columbia is in the 27th Senate district and 11th Congressional district.

County commissioners[]

Commissioners Party
David Kovach Democratic
Rich Ridgway Republican
Chris Young Republican

Other county officials[]

Office Official Party
Chief Judge Thomas A. James Democratic
Judge Gary Norton Republican
Chief Clerk Gail Kipp Democratic
Coroner Lori Masteller Republican
Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills Beverly Michael Democratic
Sheriff Tim Chamberlain Democratic
Treasurer Shirley Turner Republican
Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary Tami B. Kline Republican

State Senate[]

District Senator Party
27 John Gordner Republican

State House of Representatives[]

District Representative Party
107 Kurt Masser Republican
109 David R. Millard Republican
117 Karen Boback Republican

United States House of Representatives[]

District Representative Party
9 Dan Meuser Republican

United States Senate[]

Senator Party
Pat Toomey Republican
Bob Casey Democrat

Education[]

Map of Columbia County Pennsylvania School Districts

Map of Columbia County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Colleges and universities[]

  • Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Public school districts[]

  • Benton Area School District
  • Berwick Area School District (also in Luzerne County)
  • Bloomsburg Area School District
  • Central Columbia School District
  • Millville Area School District
  • Mount Carmel Area School District (also in Northumberland County)
  • North Schuylkill School District (also in Schuylkill County)
  • Southern Columbia Area School District (also in Northumberland County)

Technical school[]

  • Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School

Charter school[]

  • SusQ Cyber Charter School - Bloomsburg

Private schools[]

  • Bald Hill School - Millville
  • Bloomsburg Christian School - Bloomsburg
  • Bloomsburg University Special Education Institute
  • Columbia Co Christian School - Bloomsburg
  • Greenwood Friends School - Millville
  • Heritage Christian Academy - Berwick
  • Holy Family Consolidate - Berwick
  • Keystone National High School - Bloomsburg
  • New Story - Berwick
  • Pennsylvania Institute For Conservation Education - Bloomsburg
  • Rainbow Hill School - Benton
  • St Columba School - Bloomsburg
  • Saint Matthews - Bloomsburg
  • Turkey Ridge School - Bloomsburg

Libraries[]

  • Bloomsburg Public Library
  • Columbia County Traveling Library
  • McBride Memorial Library
  • Orangeville Public Library

Communities[]

Map of Columbia County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels

Map of Columbia County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Towns and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following town, boroughs and townships are located in Columbia County:

Town[]

Boroughs[]

Townships[]

  • Beaver
  • Benton
  • Briar Creek
  • Catawissa
  • Cleveland
  • Conyngham
  • Fishing Creek
  • Franklin
  • Greenwood
  • Hemlock
  • Jackson
  • Locust
  • Madison
  • Main
  • Mifflin
  • Montour
  • Mount Pleasant
  • North Centre
  • Orange
  • Pine
  • Roaring Creek
  • Scott
  • South Centre
  • Sugarloaf

Census-designated places[]

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.

  • Almedia
  • Aristes
  • Buckhorn
  • Espy
  • Eyers Grove
  • Fernville
  • Foundryville
  • Iola
  • Jamison City
  • Jerseytown
  • Jonestown
  • Lightstreet
  • Lime Ridge
  • Locustdale (partially in Schuylkill County)
  • Mainville
  • Mifflinville
  • Numidia
  • Rohrsburg
  • Rupert
  • Slabtown
  • Waller
  • Wilburton Number One
  • Wilburton Number Two

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Central
  • Elk Grove
  • Mifflin Cross Roads

Population ranking[]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Columbia County.[12]

county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Bloomsburg Town 14,855
2 Berwick Borough 10,477
3 Ashland (mostly in Schuylkill County) Borough 2,817
4 Espy CDP 1,642
5 Catawissa Borough 1,552
6 Mifflinville CDP 1,253
7 Lightstreet CDP 1,093
8 Almedia CDP 1,078
9 Millville Borough 948
10 Lime Ridge CDP 890
11 Benton Borough 824
12 Briar Creek Borough 660
13 Fernville CDP 556
14 Orangeville Borough 508
15 Buckhorn CDP 318
16 Aristes CDP 311
17 Foundryville CDP 256
18 Numidia CDP 244
19 Stillwater Borough 209
20 Wilburton Number One CDP 196
21 Jerseytown CDP 184
22 Rupert CDP 183
23 Locustdale (partially in Schuylkill County) CDP 177
24 Slabtown CDP 156
25 Rohrsburg CDP 145
26 Iola CDP 144
27 Jamison City CDP 134
28 Mainville CDP 132
29 Eyers Grove CDP 105
30 Wilburton Number Two CDP 96
31 Jonestown CDP 64
32 Waller CDP 48
33 Centralia Borough 10

See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Columbia County, Pennsylvania


References[]

Commons-logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
  1. ^ "PHMC Historical Markers Search" (Searchable database). Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_historical_marker_program/2539/search_for_historical_markers. 
  2. ^ "Explore Census Data". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US42037. 
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_42.txt. 
  5. ^ a b maps.google.com
  6. ^ Topographic Map Summit Features in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, http://www.topozone.com/states/Pennsylvania.asp?county=Columbia&feature=Summit, retrieved June 26, 2014 
  7. ^ Topographic Map Ridge Features in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, http://www.topozone.com/states/pennsylvania.asp?county=Columbia&feature=Ridge, retrieved December 14, 2014 
  8. ^ "Google Maps". https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Columbia+County,PA. 
  9. ^ "Census 2020". https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/columbiacountypennsylvania/PST045219. 
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  11. ^ "Office of Management and Budget - The White House". https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb. 
  12. ^ a b "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html. 
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  14. ^ "Voter registration statistics by county". Pennsylvania Department of State. November 2, 2021. https://www.dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/OtherServicesEvents/VotingElectionStatistics/Documents/currentvotestats.xls. 

Coordinates: 41°03′N 76°24′W / 41.05, -76.40


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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